Having a job is a great blessing and when you are working somewhere at a stable position, you don’t want to think about bad times. However, the fact remains that there are no guarantees that you might still be employed next month or even the next week. The employment scenario has changed drastically after the economic recession and the number of people without jobs has increased quite a lot lately. While it is true that you cannot do much to avoid getting fired once the boss has made up his mind, there are still many things you can do when you still have a job which can help you later on.
When you have a job, make sure that you are not making any of the common mistakes mentioned below:
Ignoring Self Improvement:
The most important thing you need to do when you are employed somewhere is to work on self improvement. Everyone possesses a lot of skills but unless you constantly work on polishing those skills, you will end up being out of touch. Since new technologies are constantly being incorporated at offices, the most important thing is to learn how to use them and make sure that you are using all tools at your disposable to perform effectively and efficiently. This way even if you are fired in the long run, you can get another job much quicker based on your experience and know-how.
You can very easily sharpen and polish your existing set of skills by enrolling in an online course, reading help materials and books and learning from a colleague or senior.
Not Availing Opportunities:
This mistake also takes its branches in the previous one as a person who does not avail the learning and training opportunities provided by the company is doing himself a great harm. Companies often organize training sessions and workshops for their employees that are aimed at honing and sharpening their skills. Most employees consider such exercises tiresome and boring and do not attend these sessions. The fact is that the employees are the ones who can reap maximum benefit from such sessions and work towards the advancement of their professional careers. So whenever you company organizes a workshop, be a part of it and learn all you can to improve your own skills.
Not Saving Money:
You need to start putting money aside while you’re still receiving a steady paycheck. Most people do not feel the urgency to start saving money when they have a job and often waste too much money on useless things.  However, once you are without a job, the money just flows out and there is no steady inflow of cash so you are left in a tight spot. It’s much easier start saving money when you are employed as you can take a little out of your salary every month and put it in a savings account.  This way even if you are terminated you will have a considerable amount of money saved which can be used while you are looking for a job and will definitely take the pressure of you.
Not Developing Contacts:
One of the most important things you need to realize when you are working in a professional environment is that developing a strong network of people assets is extremely important for your career. People assets are the most significant and important part of your professional life as they can be the most valuable contacts which come in handy when you are having problems at work or in case you get fired and are looking for a new job.
When you are employed somewhere, not only can you make a lot of contacts at work, but you also get in touch with clients and customers.  If you are good with people skills, you’ll be able to make new contacts immediately and even if you are not good at this, you can learn by watching others.
Remember, the wider you network of people is, the easier it is for you to get a job if you are fired or even get better job opportunities when you are still employed.
Not Planning Ahead:
When you are at a stable and secure job, it is understandable that you do not want to think of other options or plan ahead. However, if you do not plan ahead you can face a lot of problems later on as sooner or later everyone has to evaluate where his career path is headed. You need to take a break and consider what you want from your professional career in the next five years. Make a list of all the goals that you need to accomplish in order to get there and then check how many of these goals have been accomplished by you till date.
Next you can make a list of what changes in your professional path are necessary to reach the goal and start working on achieving them. If you are planning ahead and are prepared for the next five years, even if you are fired at once, you will know what your career path is and what you have to do next to get the job that will help in keeping you on track.
Conclusion:
It goes without saying that being jobless and unemployed is a tough time and anyone can break under the pressure. However, since we are all aware of the fact that the chances of being laid off are increasing for every single person, it is better to be prepared well in advance so that if the circumstance arises, we are able to deal with the situation positively. You need to keep in mind that getting fired is not the end of the world and with patience a proper approach you can get a new job within no time. Keep in touch with your colleagues from all the past offices and make sure that you send them a message or an email from time to time so that they think of you in case a job opportunity arises.